Want to win a seat in Province House? You don’t have to break the bank
The recent Nova Scotia provincial election provided valuable insights into campaign expenses and strategies that led to the Progressive Conservatives’ record-setting victory. The efficiency of the PC campaign, the benefits of being an incumbent, and the notion that spending a lot of money does not always guarantee success were all evident in the election results.
One standout example of a cost-effective and successful campaign was that of Cumberland South MLA Tory Rushton. Rushton spent a mere $12,966.87 on his campaign, making it the lowest campaign cost of any winning candidate. Similarly, re-elected Shelburne MLA Nolan Young also kept his campaign expenses under $20,000, spending $15,810.07 in total.
On the other end of the spectrum was Speaker of the House Danielle Barkhouse, whose campaign in Chester-St. Margaret’s was the most expensive among winning campaigns at $73,329.06. The majority of the campaign costs went towards publicity and advertising, according to disclosure documents.
The Progressive Conservatives’ campaign strategy also included significant investment in polling and research, totaling $213,000. This investment proved crucial in identifying strongholds and allocating resources effectively. Despite being outspent by the Liberals and the NDP in some districts, the PCs managed to secure nine seats based on the insights gained from polling data.
One notable example of leveraging polling data was in Yarmouth, where newcomer Nick Hilton defeated longtime Liberal MLA Zach Churchill. Hilton’s campaign cost almost $44,290, significantly less than Churchill’s $63,300. This strategic focus on key districts in the campaign’s final days proved instrumental in securing victories.
Campaign records also revealed varying fundraising totals among winning candidates. Premier Tim Houston emerged as the top fundraiser, collecting nearly $60,000 in donations. Health Minister Michelle Thompson and Nick Hilton followed closely with fundraising totals of about $34,500 and $28,795, respectively.
Notably, eight of the nine winning NDP MLAs reported no donations in their campaign filings, with the exception of Paul Wozney, who recorded $100. The NDP clarified that all winning candidates did receive donations, with the party centrally processing and transferring funds to respective campaigns.
Overall, the Nova Scotia provincial election highlighted the importance of strategic campaign planning, efficient resource allocation, and the value of incumbency. The insights gained from polling data, coupled with effective fundraising efforts, played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the election.
